Way back in 2018 I was asked if I would like to do a quilt along (QAL) for the then relatively new UKQU new website. I had never designed a formal pattern before and certainly never run a QAL but I jumped right in with both feet. I decided to design a sampler quilt that introduced new techniques and built on people's skills each week.
This was my first attempt at writing a pattern for other people to follow and so once the blocks were designed several samples were made before the final fabric was used. This quilt is a result of some of the practice blocks.
Â
It had been a finished top for several years and I kept thinking how good it would be to custom quilt - I don't make many block based quilts and so thought I could practice custom hand guided quilting on it. But the reality was that it never made the top of my quilting pile and so I decided that it was better just to get it finished! Once I had made that decision it was loaded and quilted relatively quickly.
A challenge for me on this quilt was to keep it to JUST black and white. I have tried to make black and white quilts in the past and an extra pop of colour has always crept in! I did have the idea of quilting in a different colour thread to make the contrast between the piecing and the quilting but in the end went for white thread top and bottom. The quilting design was chosen because it gives a wonderful texture and it quilts out quite quickly. To be honest, I need some quick finishes to feel I have achieved something!
Quilt Information
Pattern: cut&alter Christmas '18 QAL
Size: 61" x 61"
Started: May 2018
Finished: May 2024
Fabric: Various black and white patterned fabrics I had in my stash
Bought when we lived in New Zealand
                 White Kona cotton for the sashing and borders
Â
Backing: White tone on tone Cream on Sugar
Pieced: Bernette and Janome 9450QCP
Wadding: 100% cotton
Quilted: Handi Quilter Amara with Pro-Stitcher
Quilting: Malachite digital design by Urban Elementz
Thread: Glide 40wt White + Decobob 80wt White in bobbin
And the final quilt? Here it is... It was made using Christmas fabrics kindly supplied by Makower and it one that comes out each year at the beginning of December.
Comments